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Friday 22 June 2012

THRIFTY LAMPSHADE MAKEOVER


I don't know about you, but this rainy, grey weather's really getting me down! It's my day off today and I usually see everyone off in the morning and then get ready to have a morning browsing round the charity shops, but in this weather, I just don't feel motivated.  

I felt like being creative and really wanted to bake, but that isn't very compatible with Weight Watchers ... couldn't decide what to do, then out of the corner of my eye, I saw this ...


A dated, unloved, lampshade that was just 'making do' until something better came along.  I ripped the old tatty braid off the bottom of the shade ...


 and then off the top, so that it now looked like this (rather dejected, a bit like me at the moment!) ...


and then got out my little stash of paper tapes ... I bought most of these very cheaply off Ebay, there are loads to choose from, and they're great for adding a trim to pictures, presents and to make strings of mini bunting with ...


I decided on the faded red polka dot one, as I didn't really want the pattern to be fighting with the curtains for attention, and we all benefit from a little dottiness in our lives, let's face it!


I stuck it down around the top, then over the rim and down each 'rib' of the shade, until it looked like this ...


Using my trusty glue gun, I then added a bit of bobble trim, salvaged from another lampshade I didn't like, and this is the finished product!!


What do you think? Is it a bit mad? It took 10 minutes, no sewing involved, and cost practically nothing because I already had everything in, and it's made me happy! Hopefully the tape will stay put, but if not I'll just put a few blobs of glue down each line. Of course, you crafty lot could do it properly, ie, by sewing braid or ribbon down each rib and stitching on the bobbles, but I needed instant gratification this morning!

I shall now spend the rest of the day wandering around the house, glue gun in hand, wondering what I can titivate next! Please share your 'cheap as chips' craft tips with me, because I love to make something out of nothing!

Am getting a little stash of goodies together for the 'Jar of Love' swap, how are you all getting on?

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend and that it turns out fine for you!

See you soon, Claire xxx


41 comments:

  1. The lampshade looks great now...love the bobble trim on the bottom!
    I know what you mean about the weather..I sure hope we get some sunshine soon (cross fingers).
    Have a nice weekend...
    Magie x

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    1. Thanks Magie, it looks a bit better anyway! Hope your weekend is lovely, xxx

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  2. What a wonderful way to spend 10 minutes in this dull Summer of ours! I think the lampshade looks a million dollars!
    Have a great weekend!
    June

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    1. It's amazing what you can do in ten minutes! You have a great weekend too, and thank you! Xxx

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  3. Hello Mrs!
    WOW, that's nifty and frifty!
    I know what you mean about the weather.....
    I am gonna light a fire! see you Tuesday!
    Mariax

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    Replies
    1. Hope we can sit in the garden and have afternoon tea! Have a lovely weekend, xxx

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  4. It looks fabulous. Amazing what you can do in ten minutes. Hope the weather improves soon, who'd believe we're in to summer?

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    1. Thank you Jo, the weather seems to getting worse, it's more like November! Xxx

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  5. Love anything spotty! This turned out really well

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    1. Hello and welcome! Spotty is good, I always think! Have a great weekend xxx

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  6. i like it! funky!
    The wind is doing my head in!!!!!!

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    1. Hi Claire, thank you ... It's doing mine in too! Let's hope weekend a bit more balmy! Xxx

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  7. Love the lampshade Claire! I think I need to invest in some of those tapes, they are so so pretty, loving the dots! I too love creating things for virtually nothing, I too have a lampshade makeover coming soon :)
    Victoria xx

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Victoria, hope you share it with us, love new ideas! The tapes are really good, some are more like fabric than paper, but I just entered paper tape on eBay, and there was loads to choose from. Have a great weekend xxx

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  8. Love it!!! just the thing to brighten up a dark damp summers day....hopefully July will be better Su xx

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    1. Thanks Su, keep our fingers crossed, but can't really be any worse, can it? Hope you're ok and enjoy your weekend xxx

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  9. I love the face lift you gave your lampshade. Bright and cheerful.

    Have a good weekend.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, we need bright and cheerful in these dark days of summer ... Hope it's brighter where you are ... Enjoy it anyway! Xxx

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  10. I love it - it's retro and fun and cute. You're right, sometimes you need instant gratification.

    A really cheap and quick project is to buy picture frames from a charity shop then spray them all the same colour, then hang together in a display. Costs under a tenner and can be done in a day.

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    1. That sounds a really good idea, and glad you like the lamp! Hope the sun shines for you this weekend! Xxx

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  11. I love your dotty lampshade sometimes things done in the spur of the moment work out best. Hope we get some summer over the weekend.
    Sarah x

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  12. That seems to be the way things work for me ... If I plan too much things never go to plan ... I like lightbulb moments,! I hope we get some summer too Sarah, but doesn't look promising! Enjoy it anyway xxx

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  13. I love your lampshade, lets hope the sun shines soon!
    Thea x

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    1. Thank you Thea ... still wild and windy here, hope the sun's shining for you! xxx

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  14. I love it! Red & white spots & bobble trim are my one weakness! :)

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    1. Me too Josie-Mary! If something stands still long enough, it gets decorated! Have a lovely weekend xxx

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  15. Fab! I love it and what fast work! Just my type of craft. I've got a need to make something today and have just got out my box of fabric and then put it all away again! It's that fear of starting something, doing it all wrong, throwing it across the room while swearing and ending up with wasted bit of fabric that you were too scared to cut in the first place!
    Have a smashing weekend!
    x

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    1. Hi Missy, just go for it! Am sure whatever you make will be fabulous! Enjoy your evening, Claire xxx

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  16. Replies
    1. Thanks LissyLou, hope you're having a great weekend and the sun's shining for you! Xxx

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  17. Great makeover Claire....inspiration like that is so rewarding and it looks wonderful. You've given me an idea!

    going to have to get some of that tape and a glue gun...never used one before!

    as for the Jar swap I'm still at the thinking about it stage as I have to finish of a little gift for my friends' new grandchild who will be arriving very soon.

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  18. Hi Amanda, I'm not fabulous at sewing so glue guns are great, and instant! Enjoy your evening, Claire xxx

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  19. Hi Claire, I love the quick makeover and at least you can change it if whenever you want seeing as its not permanent . This is my first visit to you blog and I will be back for more inspirational ideas.
    Have a good week.
    M x

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    1. Hello Maureen, thank you and welcome to Thriftwood! It's lovely to see new faces ... have a lovely Sunday, Claire xxx

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  20. Hi Claire, love your lampshade and the tape it looks very posh now. Julie xxx

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    1. Hi Julie, thank you very much, hope you're ok! Have a lovely week xxx

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  21. Hi Claire, Thanks so much for popping over to my blog. I'm looking forward to swapping with you and hoping to pick up lots of thrifty hints along the way. Ali x
    PS love the lampshade revamp.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Ali, lovely to meet you! Will be in touch ... enjoy your week! Love, Claire xxx

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  22. Hello Claire Sweetie, thanks for your comment. I love your lampshade, I've got a plain one in the spare room you've inspired me to get creative. I think i'll give it the button treatment, I stick buttons on everything these days. I love my glue gun too, don't know what i'll do without it. I did a little shopping last week for the jar swap, when I got home I couldn't fit it all in!!! Doh, I think i need to have a serious jar rethink. The opening is too small. What goodies have you choosen? email me if you like and we can swap ideas! Lots of love Katie xxxxx

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    1. Hi Katie, thank you very much, was just a little spur of the moment thing! Buttons would be nice, that's a good idea, I've got loads of those, just need a bit of inspiration. I'll be the same regards the jar, I keep thinking, "Oh, that can go in the jar", I'll need a dustbin at this rate! WIll be in touch soon, Claire xxx

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  23. Hello petral... thank you so much for your cheery words... I'm feeling a lot better today; full of vim, vigour and gluten free choc chip cookies. Not really the way to start a diet but you can't go past a good cookie!!!

    Loving the lampshade too! jusx

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I love to hear what you think of my ramblings and value all your comments ... I will try and get back to you, but am sorry if I don't always manage this ... sometimes real life just gets in the way! Claire xxx